Customer Reviews

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Sadly if you are looking for Martha Wainwright's amazing performance of The Traitor from the DVD Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, you won't find it here. For some strange reason they have used alternate versions of the music from the DVD for this CD. For me this was unexpected as I got the CD 'Original Soundtrack' for the performances I had seen on the DVD. Seems like I was duped.

I am a long time fan of Leonard Cohen and thoroughly enjoyed the "I'm Your Man" DVD, so happily bought the soundtrack...... BUT where are my favorites on this cd? The Traitor version is different from the amazing dvd rendition, and my all time favorite tune from the movie, Hallelujah, is missing!!!

Most people are probably familiar with, and prefer, the Buckley rendition of this wonderful Cohen song. I, too, loved it until I was blessed to hear the Rufus Wainwright version -- now nothing else compares, especially with the harmonies and additional performers on the dvd. Yes, you can find the song by Rufus on one of his albums, but it's not the one from the dvd -- even the director expressed disappointment at its ommission from what should be a compillation of the best and most important songs.

Still worth a listen, especially for Antony's chilling version of "If it be your will" and a couple others, but I need to learn to read the song list & also how to get an audio dub from the film!!!

Get the DVD instead!

There are a few good songs here...No, there are a few really great covers of Leonard's masterpieces. Unfortunately there are several that left me just shaking my head and wondering why something better was not presented to showcase this genius of a song writer.

Highlights:

Antony's cover of "If It Be Your Will" (worth the price of the cd)
ANTHEM sung by Batalla/Christensen is sublime.
Also, the 2 songs by Thompson are quite good, especially "The Future."

What was done to some of these pieces seemed tragic. "Winter Lady" is a lowlight, as is "Famous Blue Raincoat."

This should have been so much better. Better song selections and certainly better renditions of Cohen's wonderful songs.

There are some really great Cohen covers out there so I know it can be done. Better yet, listen to The Man himself. No one tops Leonard singing Leonard.

I wish this was better, but do consider it for the Highlights. They are very good.
Laurie

There are some magnificent, some great and some merely competent interpretations of Leonard Cohen's music on this soundtrack album. First the highlights. Tower Of Song by Martha Wainwright with its intricate guitars is a powerful interpretation of the classic. The lilting and sensual Tonight Will Be Fine by Teddy Thompsom is magnificent - his voice resembles that of Springsteen.

Then comes the tremulous and atmospheric Winter Lady by Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Martha Wainwright, a true gem. Beth Orton does a splendid version of Sisters Of Mercy with her slow and emphatic enunciation supported by lovely backing vocals. Perla Batalla's Bird On A Wire and The Traitor by Martha Wainwright with its opening trumpets are great, and both have exquisite instrumentation.

The weaving voices of Nick Cave, Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla make Suzanne quite special, whilst Teddy Thompson does justice to The Future in this rhythmic, uptempo version of the eerie song with its apocalyptic vision of the future. The evocative Anthem is a duet between Batalla and Christensen, a classic interpretation with soulful organ and uplifting vocals.

I found the following tracks competent but not really exceptional: The sax-heavy I'm Your Man by Nick Cave, Chelsea Hotel by Rufus Wainwright, the soulful If It Be Your Will by Antony, I Can't Forget by Jarvis Cocker, Famous Blue Raincoat by the Handsome Family and the breezy Everybody Knows by Rufus Wainwright.

Although not a fan of U2, I love the concluding track Tower of Song by Cohen and Bono. The voices work well together and the instrumentation is superb. Fans of Leonard might also be interested in the other tribute albums: Famous Blue Raincoat: 20th Anniversary Edition by Jennifer Warnes, Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy, I'm Your Fan by a colourful array of artists from different musical backgrounds and the slightly tepid Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen by a selection of mostly country singers.

Watched the special on Sundance Channel as I'm a huge U2 fan and saw them in the commercial for it. I had never heard of Leonard Cohen previously. I am now a big fan as a direct result of this special (U2 and Leonard sing the last song on the cd "Tower of Song.") So the soundtrack is as awesome as the special, however one disappointment was that the song Hallejulah was not on the soundtrack cd. But never fear buy the Essential Leonard Cohen as well and you will not be disappointed in the least! Hallejulah and all the others are there and much, much more. I am now a lifetime fan of Leonard Cohen and am sharing the experience with all my music friends!

I was at the Brighton concerts that these recordings were mostly taken from and as a reminder of two stunning nights of music they can't be better. Standout tracks include the two by Martha Wainwright, the two by Teddy Thompson, Perla Batalla's "Bird on a Wire", Rufus' "Chelsea Hotel" and (from the Sydney concert) Antony's "If it be your Will". Two major disappointments though; the inclusion of U2 as backing band for Leonard Cohen's own version of "Tower of Song" seems done for purely commercial reasons and doesn't work, and the nonsensical ommission of Linda Thompson's sublime take on "Alexandra Leaving". Here's hoping it's included on the dvd release.

All but one of these songs is a cover version. Leonard sings only at the very end, his gravelly golden voice perched perfectly there at the top of the incredible tower of song that is this soundtrack . Antony's mid-CD rendition of "If it be your will" is unimaginably, breathtakingly poignant. Rufus Wainwright's "Chelsea Hotel" is intoxicating, and Martha Wainwright's delivers an excellent version of "The Traitor". Beth Orton's "Sisters of Mercy" didn't quite do it for me, but the other songs are thoroughly unmissable. His woeful but gloriously uplifting poetry has been superbly captured on this CD.

I saw the video of "I'm Your Man" which is half-documentary and half concert film, was blown away and immediately ordered the CD. While it's true that some of the singing is, shall we say, weird, most of it is just wonderful. That Cohen's poetry is celestial is indisputable, and it's nice that these young folks like it, too. A particular treat was Teddy Thompson's rendition of "Tonight Will Be Fine." Cohen's lyrics just kill.

Grabbed the DVD first of this tribute concert just because I liked Rufus Wainwright but wow was I in for a surprise. What a rare gem we have in Leonard Cohen and his incredible prose set to wonderful music. Whomever did the arrangements make all the songs sound as if they were just written. Only genius songs can posses this timelessness. Leonard Cohen's already powerful lyrics are further elevated by all the incredible artists that turned out to interpret some of his great works.
The only flaw with this soundtrack is that it leaves out some of the songs in the DVD concert. And likewise there are gems on the soundtrack that were not on the DVD. Standouts are the showstopping "If It Be Your Will" by Antony, "Bird On A Wire", and "Ring The Bells". But the entire concert is a joy to discover if you aren't familiar with Mr. Cohen. Get the DVD first and use the sub titles to realize the full power of such magnificent lyrics (and music). it doesn't get any better than this!

I love Leonard Cohen and his magnificent music - but was completely devastated when I got this CD and eagerly played it, anxious to hear again the glorious rendition of "Hallelujah" as performed in the film - and, lo and behold, it isn't even on the CD!

Does anyone have an explanation as to why the best song in the film is not on its soundtrack? And on what CD is this particular rendition to be found? Any help would be greatly appreciated.